Insulated carrier

ABSTRACT

An insulated carrier includes a substantially rigid frame and a plurality of members supported on the substantially rigid frame. The substantially rigid frame includes an insulating material and is configured to at least partially insulate containers held by the insulated carrier from ambient conditions. The plurality of members supported on the substantially rigid frame is configured to contact and support containers held by the insulated carrier. At least one of a heat dissipating characteristic and an abrasion resisting characteristic of the members is greater than a corresponding characteristic of the insulating material of the substantially rigid frame. An insulating cover may also be provided to receive the substantially rigid frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/402,950 filed on Aug. 14, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an insulated carrier and, moreparticularly, to an insulated carrier for holding containers.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] There are many varieties of insulated carriers currently on themarket for transporting hot or cold food from one location to another.It is customary, especially in the catering industry, for food to beprepared in traditional “containers” (also referred to as “insert pans”or simply “food pans”) and for those containers to then be placed insideinsulated carriers for transport.

[0006] These insulated carriers may be soft-sided products. Theinsulated carriers may have internal support structure, such as a wireframe, placed within the soft-sided portion of the insulated carrier toprovide added rigidity.

[0007] As several containers are often placed within one insulatedcarrier, the insulated carrier often becomes heavy and difficult tomove. Even if an internal structure, such as a wire frame, is used theinsertion, retention, and removal of containers from the wire frame canbe difficult. Moreover, at least one of the wire frame and the containermay be damaged when a container is inserted into, or removed from, thewire frame.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An aspect of the present invention relates to an insulatedcarrier for holding containers. The insulated carrier includes asubstantially rigid frame including an insulating material, and aplurality of members supported on the substantially rigid frame. Thesubstantially rigid frame is configured to at least partially insulatecontainers held by the insulated carrier from ambient conditions. Theplurality of members supported on the substantially rigid frame areconfigured to contact containers held by the insulated carrier. At leastone of a heat dissipating characteristic and an abrasion resistingcharacteristic of the members is greater than a correspondingcharacteristic of the insulating material of the substantially rigidframe.

[0009] Another aspect of the invention relates to an insulated carrierfor holding containers, which includes a substantially rigid frame forreceiving the containers, and a flexible cover for receiving thesubstantially rigid frame. The substantially rigid frame includes aninsulating material and is configured to at least partially insulate thecontainers from ambient conditions.

[0010] It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification, illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve toexplain the principles of the invention.

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of aninsulated carrier according to the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a flexible cover of the insulatedcarrier of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an underside of the flexible coverof the insulated carrier of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the flexible cover of the insulatedcarrier of FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a substantially rigid frame of theinsulated carrier of FIG. 1;

[0017]FIG. 6 is an end view of a member of the insulated carrier of FIG.1;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the insulated carrier ofFIG. 1 showing a member projecting from a slot in the frame;

[0019]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the substantially rigid frame ofthe insulated carrier of FIG. 1 having a plurality of members withinslots.

[0020]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment ofan insulated carrier according to the present invention;

[0021]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a substantially rigid frame ofthe insulated carrier of FIG. 9;

[0022]FIG. 11 is an end view of a member of the insulated carrier ofFIG. 9;

[0023]FIG. 12 is a partial perspective view of the insulated carrier ofFIG. 9 showing a member projecting from a slot in the frame; and

[0024]FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the substantially rigid frame ofthe insulated carrier of FIG. 9 having a plurality of members withinslots.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Reference will now be made in detail to presently preferredembodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. An effort has been made to use the same reference numbers torefer to the same or like parts.

[0026] FIGS. 1 to 8 show a first preferred embodiment of an insulatedcarrier 10 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, theinsulated carrier 10 preferably includes a substantially rigid frame 50and a plurality of members 60 supported on the substantially rigid frame50.

[0027] The substantially rigid frame 50 preferably has a rigidity thatprovides support for containers 70. For example, the substantially rigidframe can support not only its weight and a plurality of containers 70held by it, it can also withstand a load of up to about 150 lbs placedon a top wall 51 thereof.

[0028] In addition to the top wall 51, the substantially rigid frame 50also preferably has a bottom wall 52, two sidewalls 53, 54, a rear wall55, and a removable front wall (not shown). The front wall may rest in aspace behind ridges 34 formed in the front wall 26 of the cover 20.Preferably at least the top wall 51, bottom wall 52, and two sidewalls53, 54 are integral members. The substantially rigid frame 50 can be,for example, between about 19″ and about 29″ long, between about 11″ and19″ wide, and between about 11″ and 14″ tall. More preferably, thesubstantially rigid frame 50 is 22″ long, 15.125″ wide, and 12.5″ tall.

[0029] The sidewalls 53, 54 of the substantially rigid frame 50preferably are configured to facilitate the support of the containers70. In this preferred embodiment, the sidewalls 53, 54 contain slots 56(shown in FIG. 5) for accommodating edges 71 of containers 70, as shownin FIG. 8. The slots 56 can be prescribed distances apart, therebypermitting the substantially rigid frame 50 to receive multiplecontainers 70 and/or a variety of sizes of containers 70. The slots 56can include receiving grooves 57 (see FIG. 5).

[0030] The substantially rigid frame 50 also preferably at leastpartially insulates containers 70 held by the insulated carrier 10 fromambient conditions. The substantially rigid frame 50 can include asubstantially insulating material. The insulating material preferablyhas an insulating value of at least R-Value of one. The substantiallyrigid frame 50 can be made entirely of the substantially insulatingmaterial. The insulating material can be, for example, a plastic such aspolymeric foam or expanded polypropylene.

[0031] Members 60 are supported on the substantially rigid frame 50. Themembers 60 each can form a channel for receiving a portion of acontainer 70. The members 60 can be disposed within the slots 56 in thesidewalls 53, 54, as shown in FIG. 8. The members 60 are preferablyformed as runners which are adapted to slide into and out of the slots56, as shown in FIG. 7. The members 60 can include flanges 59 that slidetightly into receiving grooves 57 (shown in FIG. 5) formed in the backside of the slots 56 in the sidewalls 53, 54. The members 60 also may beshaped such that they will not become accidentally dislodged or bent dueto the weight of the containers 70 they support. For example, the widthW (shown in FIG. 6) of the portion of the members 60 that supportscontainers 70 may rest substantially against the upper and lower wallsdefining the slots 56, as shown in FIG. 8. As a result, the containers70 will be supported by both the members 60 and by the upper and lowerwalls of the slots 56. In other words, the rigid members 60 enhance thesupport provided to the containers 70 by the slots 56.

[0032] The members 60 can be constructed of a material that willdissipate heat, such as metal. For example, the members 60 may be formedof extruded aluminum, stainless steel, other metals, polymers, etc. Themembers 60 preferably have a heat dissipating characteristic that isgreater than a corresponding characteristic of the insulating materialof the substantially rigid frame 50 which as, previously mentioned, ispreferably formed of polymeric foam. Thus, the members 60 allow theinsulated carrier 10 to handle containers 70 having high temperatures,while reducing the likelihood of damage to the insulating material ofthe substantially rigid frame 50. The members 60 protect the sidewalls53, 54 of the substantially rigid frame 50 from direct contact with theelevated temperatures of the containers 70. Each of the members 60 isadapted to spread throughout its length the heat absorbed from acontainer 70. As a result, the members 60 inhibit concentrated areas ofheat from damaging the substantially rigid frame 50.

[0033] As a result of the members 60 preferably being harder than thesubstantially rigid frame, the members 60 preferably have an abrasionresisting characteristic that is greater than a correspondingcharacteristic of the insulating material of the substantially rigidframe 50. This enhanced abrasion-resisting characteristic of the members60 protects the sidewalls 53, 54 of the substantially rigid frame 50from abrasion. The members 60 act as a protective liner within the slots56 used to support the hot or cold containers 70. The members 60 alsocan facilitate sliding the containers 70 into and out of the frame 50.

[0034] This preferred embodiment also can include a flexible cover 20 toreceive the substantially rigid frame 50. More preferably, the flexiblecover surrounds the substantially rigid frame 50. The flexible cover 20is preferably a soft-sided product and preferably includes an insulatingmaterial that at least partially insulates the substantially rigid frame50 from ambient conditions. For example, the flexible cover 20 can havean outer layer that could be formed of a combination of waterproof 1000denier Cordra Plus or 1050 ballistic Nylon and an insulating layer ofnon woven polyester. Other materials could be used for the outer layersuch as, for example, vinyl or woven materials (e.g., fabric). Theflexible cover 20 also can have an inner layer, such as a reflectivevapor barrier, e.g., a reflective polyester liner.

[0035] Preferably, the flexible cover 20 includes a top wall 21, abottom wall 22 (shown in FIG. 2), two sidewalls 23, 24 (shown in FIG.4), a rear wall 25 (also shown in FIG. 4), and a front wall 26. Thefront wall 26 may have side flaps 27, 28 and a top flap 29. The flaps27, 28, 29 may include, for example, one portion of a Velcro connectorthat connects with another corresponding portion 127, 128, 129 of aVelcro connector affixed to a respective one of the walls 23, 24, 21.Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 depicts a two-piece cover 20,each of the walls (and associated flaps) of the cover 20 may beintegrally formed as one continuous piece. Similarly, each of the wallsand flaps could be individual pieces connected by any conventionalmeans, e.g., sewing. Preferably the flexible cover 20 is between about20″ and about 30″ long, between about 10″ and about 20″ wide, andbetween about 10″ and 15″ tall. More preferably, the cover is about 24″inches long, 16″ inches wide, and 13.5″ inches tall.

[0036] A clasp may also be provided to ensure closure of the carrier 10.For example, the clasp may have two mating portions, one affixed to thefront wall 26 and another on the top wall 21. By way of further example,a buckle 30 may be connected to the front wall 26 and a correspondingbelt (containing holes) 130 may be provided on the top wall 21.Alternatively, the belt 130 may include a nylon strap sewn to the top ofthe cover 20 and having a half of a conventional snap and a nylon strapsewn to the front of the cover 20 and having the other half of the snap(not shown). The front wall 26 may also include inner ridges 34 thatwill rest against a front side 35 of the substantially rigid frame 50when the carrier 10 is closed. In addition, the ridges 34 may be used tohouse an additional insulated sheet (not shown).

[0037] One or more handles 31 may be provided on the flexible cover 20.In addition, the handles 31 may include straps 32 that are affixed to,or circumscribe, the flexible cover 20, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferablythe handles 31 extend substantially in a direction of a longitudinallength of the flexible cover 20.

[0038] Rubber wear feet 33 may be affixed (e.g., by sewing, glue, etc.)to the bottom wall 22 of the flexible cover 20. Moreover, the feet 33may be provided on the straps 32 (as shown) or on another portion of thebottom wall 22.

[0039] FIGS. 9-13 show a second preferred embodiment of an insulatedcontainer according to the present invention. Similar to the previouslydescribed embodiment, the substantially rigid frame 150 of the thisembodiment is designed to fit within the cover 20 shown in FIGS. 2-4.Moreover, this embodiment may also include a clasp (e.g., buckle 30 andbelt 130) to maintain the container 110 in a closed state. Similarly,the container 110 may also contain feet 33 and handles 31 which mayserve the same purpose as in the previously described embodiment.

[0040] In this embodiment, the substantially rigid frame 150 may beformed of the same materials as the previously described frame 50. Inaddition, the substantially rigid frame 150 similarly has a top wall151, bottom wall 151, and sidewalls 153, 154. However, as shown in FIG.10, unlike the previously described frame 50, the sidewalls 153, 154(and associated members 160) of the frame 150 of this embodiment may beshaped differently, i.e., to have generally curved exterior surfaceswhich facilitate inserting the substantially rigid frame 150 into thecover 20. Further, unlike the slots 56 of the previously describedembodiment, the slots 156 of this embodiment do not contain grooves 57.Rather, the slots are formed to have a substantially c-shapedcross-section.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 11, the peaks of the “C” in c-shaped shapedcross-section define receiving portions 157. To releaseably engage thereceiving portions 157, members 160 are formed with substantiallyc-shaped cross-sections which are sized slide into the slots 156, asshown in FIG. 12. As the peaks of the “C” in the c-shaped cross-sectionare wider than the cut-out portion thereof, the members 160 can only beremoved from the frame 150 by sliding them along their length.

[0042] The cut-out portion of the c-shaped cross-section of the members160 enable the members to have a rim receiving area of width W′. Inaddition, like the width W of the previously described embodiment, thewidth W′ of this embodiment is adapted to receive a rim 71 of acontainer 70 such that the member 160 can support the container 70 inthe carrier 110 while providing a gap 72 between the container 70 andthe frame 150, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0043] The present invention can provide lightweight, but rigid, foodtransportation carriers that allow individuals to transport food moreeasily. Moreover, as a result of the insulating aspects of the carriers,food placed in the carrier may be kept hot (or cold) while it is beingtransported.

[0044] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practiceof the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specificationand examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope andspirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An insulated carrier for holding containers, thecarrier comprising: a substantially rigid frame including an insulatingmaterial, the substantially rigid frame being configured to at leastpartially insulate containers held by the insulated carrier from ambientconditions; and a plurality of members supported on the substantiallyrigid frame and being configured to contact containers held by theinsulated carrier, wherein at least one of a heat dissipatingcharacteristic and an abrasion resisting characteristic of the membersis greater than a corresponding characteristic of the insulatingmaterial of the substantially rigid frame.
 2. The insulated carrier ofclaim 1, wherein the insulating material has an insulating value of atleast R-Value of one.
 3. The insulated carrier of claim 1, wherein theinsulating material includes polymeric foam.
 4. The insulated carrier ofclaim 1, wherein the substantially rigid frame includes a top wall, twosidewalls, and a bottom wall, and wherein the top wall, two sidewalls,and bottom wall are integral.
 5. The insulated carrier of claim 1,wherein the substantially rigid frame includes two opposing sidewallsconfigured to receive the members.
 6. The insulated carrier of claim 5,wherein the two opposing sidewalls have slots configured to receiveportions of containers, and wherein the members are disposed on at leastbottom portions of the slots.
 7. The insulated carrier of claim 5,wherein the two opposing sidewalls have receiving grooves, and whereinthe members have flanges that are received within the receiving groovesto connect the members to the sidewalls.
 8. The insulated carrier ofclaim 5, wherein the two opposing sidewalls have slots configured toreceive portions of containers, wherein the slots are substantiallyc-shaped in cross-section, wherein the slots comprise receivingportions, and wherein the members have cross-sections which are sized toreleaseably engage the receiving portions.
 9. The insulated carrier ofclaim 5, wherein each member forms a channel for receiving a portion ofa container.
 10. The insulated carrier of claim 9, wherein each channelshields the two opposing sidewalls from the portions of the containers.11. The insulated carrier of claim 1, wherein each member is anelongated runner.
 12. The insulated carrier of claim 1, wherein theinsulating material includes polymers and each member is formed ofmetal.
 13. The insulated carrier of claim 12, wherein each member isformed of extruded aluminum or stainless steel.
 14. The insulatedcarrier of claim 1, wherein the insulating material includes polymersand each member is formed of polymers.
 15. The insulated carrier ofclaim 1, wherein the heat dissipating characteristic of the members isgreater that of the of the insulating material that supports themembers.
 16. The insulated carrier of claim 1, wherein the abrasionresisting characteristic of the members is greater than that of theinsulating material that supports the members.
 17. The insulated carrierof claim 1, further comprising: a flexible cover for receiving thesubstantially rigid frame and members.
 18. The insulated carrier ofclaim 17, wherein the flexible cover is configured to surround thesubstantially rigid frame and members.
 19. The insulated carrier ofclaim 17, wherein the flexible cover includes an insulating materialthat at least partially insulates the substantially rigid frame fromambient conditions.
 20. The insulated carrier of claim 17, wherein theflexible cover includes handles extending from the flexible cover. 21.The insulated carrier of claim 17, wherein the flexible cover includesan interior reflective vapor barrier.
 22. An insulated carrier forholding containers, comprising: a substantially rigid frame forreceiving the containers, the substantially rigid frame including aninsulating material and being configured to at least partially insulatethe containers from ambient conditions; and a flexible cover forreceiving the substantially rigid frame.
 23. The insulated carrier ofclaim 22, wherein the flexible cover is configured to surround thesubstantially rigid frame.
 24. The insulated carrier of claim 22,wherein the flexible cover includes an insulating material that at leastpartially insulates the substantially rigid frame from ambientconditions.
 25. The insulated carrier of claim 22, wherein the flexiblecover includes handles extending substantially in a direction of alongitudinal length of the flexible cover.
 26. The insulated carrier ofclaim 22, wherein the flexible cover includes an interior reflectivevapor barrier.